Mozambique’s police general commander, Bernardino Rafael, reported on Wednesday that a prison riot in the capital city of Maputo had killed 33 people and injured 15.
In the incident, about 1,534 inmates broke out of the prison, but 150 of them have since been apprehended, Rafael said.
The contested election in October, which extended the tenure of the long-ruling Frelimo party, is intensifying civil unrest in Mozambique. Opposition organizations and their backers allege a rigged vote.
Rafael said that the riot was incited by protests outside the prison, but Justice Minister Helena Kida told local private broadcaster Miramar TV that the disturbances began inside the prison and were not related to the protests outside.
“The confrontations after that resulted in 33 deaths and 15 injured in the vicinity of the jail.” Rafael gave a media briefing.
It was unclear who had died or sustained injuries.
The interior minister announced on Tuesday that at least 21 people had died in unrest after Mozambique’s top court on Monday upheld Frelimo’s victory.
